Can anyone stop Katie Zaferes in Super League Triathlon?
The US women secure Triple Mix podium sweep in Mallorca
Another week, another country and another Super League Triathlon victory for Katie Zaferes (USA). Porto Cristo in Mallorca was the venue for Day One’s Triple Mix, three triathlon events held in a different order with a 10 minute break. Once again, there was little doubt who is the form athlete in this format of racing.
(CLICK HERE FOR THE MEN’S TRIPLE MIX REPORT)
Super League Mallorca, Saturday 3rd November 2018
Day One – Triple Mix
Race One – Swim / Bike / Run
300m / 4km / 2km
The Aussie duo of Emma Jeffcoat and Danielle De Francesco lead out the opening swim with series leader, Katie Zaferes (USA), 11 seconds back in ninth. Some interesting tactics in the water too, athletes taking a variety of lines back into the beach. The men will have certainly taken notice for their races.
#IAMSUPERLEAGUE #triathlon
.#FansEyeView #SLTmallorca 🇪🇸
.
On course – our pro women are out of the 🏊🏻♀️ and onto the 1st 🚴🏼♀️ pic.twitter.com/OBvfXubu3z— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) November 3, 2018
First off the bike, Spivey earned the ‘short chute’ advantage and that time saving was enough for her to take Race One.
.
Taylor Spivey extends her lead as she takes the running Short Chute
.
🏊♀️🚴♀️🏃♀️ pic.twitter.com/Hen90a1KsJ
— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) November 3, 2018
Zaferes closed back towards Spivey steadily after that short chute, limiting her loss to just two seconds without digging too deep. With Kasper and Cook losing more than 30 seconds, the series leader made second place a ‘win’ for her.
#IAMSUPERLEAGUE
.
Taylor Spivey (USA) takes stage one of today’s Triple Mix 💪
.@TKSpivey pic.twitter.com/JxUBcx2Zsg— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) November 3, 2018
1st – Taylor Spivey (USA) – 20:13
2nd – Katie Zaferes (USA) – 20:15
3rd – Rachel Klamer (NED) – 20:22
4th -Joanna Brown (CAN) – 20:30
5th – Yuko Takahashi (JPN) – 20:30
6th – Kirsten Kasper (USA) – 20:46
7th – Summer Cook (USA) – 20:47
8th – Jodie Stimpson (GBR) – 20:50
(11 athletes finished inside the 90 seconds cut-off and progress to Race Two, six eliminated).
Race Two – Run / Bike / Swim
2km / 4km / 300m
Kirsten Kasper was first into T1 ofter the opening run, and she would mount the bike with Katie Zaferes and Joanne Brown with Cook losing time due to a very slow (static) bike mount.
#IAMSUPERLEAGUE #triathlon
.#FansEyeView #SLTmallorca 🇪🇸
.
On course in Transition BUT it’s a run to bike!! Only with us in SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON! pic.twitter.com/BNseqW2FHs— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) November 3, 2018
Kasper took the ‘short chute’ advantage early in the bike, but Zaferes and Brown were able to close that advantage before they arrived at T2 – and then actually drop Kasper, who was finding the constant hills on the bike course tough. First into T2 ahead of the closing swim leg, the series leader Zaferes was looking in control (again!), and would take the short chute advantage to further boost her lead with just a 300m swim remaining.
#IAMSUPERLEAGUE #triathlon
.#FansEyeView #SLTmallorca 🇪🇸
.
On course in Transition – 🚴🏼♀️ into 🏊🏻♀️ this time.
.
What a test for our pros! pic.twitter.com/N1zPjKsQqk— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) November 3, 2018
Spivey was able to close a few seconds on the swim – but the Queen of Super League, Kaitie Zaferes, would take the win and start the final leg with an advantage of eight seconds over Taylor. Once again, the odds-on favourite to add to her impressive Super League Triathlon season.
#IAMSUPERLEAGUE
.
What a race! Katie Zaferes showed who’s boss 😏‘This race really is for strong people’ 💪
.@KZaferes6 pic.twitter.com/UIuS8KF2bF— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) November 3, 2018
1st – Katie Zaferes (USA) – 20:18
2nd – Taylor Spivey (USA) – 20:27
3rd – Kirsten Kasper (USA) – 20:34
4th – Rachel Kalmer (NED) – 20:47
5th – Jodie Stimpson (GBR) – 20:47
6th – Yuko Tahahashi (JPN) – 20:48
7th – Joanna Brown (CAN) – 20:54
8th – Emma Jeffcoat (AUS) – 21:30
9th – Summer Cook (USA) – 21:31
10th – Charlotte McShane (AUS) – 21:37
11th – Daniella De Francesco (AUS) – 21:42
(Seven athletes qualify for the final race with a net deficit of less than 90 seconds)
Race Three – Bike / Swim / Run
(Pursuit Start – 4km / 300m / 2km) – OVERALL TRIPLE MIX RESULTS
https://www.facebook.com/SuperLeagueTri/videos/2025771867713673/
With a head start earned from the first two legs and collecting short chute advantages along the way, there was never any danger of Katie Zaferes not taking the win in the final Triple Mix leg.
#IAMSUPERLEAGUE
.
Bike, swim, run – Last stage of the day for the Women’s Triple Mix 🚴♀️ 🏊♀️🏃♀️ pic.twitter.com/BO3Px4owBm— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) November 3, 2018
Katie finished the bike leg 17 seconds clear of Spivey, ended the swim with a 27 seconds advantage and could cruise over the final 2km to take the win.
“It’s definitely not easy”, Zaferes said (again) after the race… but you have to say, she must be a pretty good actress because Katie Zaferes is making Super League Triathlon look simple. Tactically smart, strong across the board and technically efficient, she once again lead home a Team U.S.A. clean sweep in today’s Triple Mix.
#IAMSUPERLEAGUE
.
Katie Zaferes always makes it so easy! 🤷♀️😍
.@KZaferes6 pic.twitter.com/G9xs0AJUAI— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) November 3, 2018
1st – Katie Zaferes (USA) – 21:05
2nd – Taylor Spivey (USA) – 21:47
3rd – Kirsten Kasper (USA) – 22:08
4th – Rachel Klamer (NED) – 22:17
5th – Yuko Takahashi (JPN) – 22:20
(Only five athletes finished, Joanna Brown (CAN) and Jodie Stimpson eliminated (GBR) due to the 90 seconds rule).
#IAMSUPERLEAGUE
.
Women’s Triple Mix – Medal Ceremony for Super League Mallorca🥇Katie Zaferes (USA)
🥈Taylor Spivey (USA)
🥉Kirsten Kasper (USA)
.@KZaferes6 @TKSpivey @KirstenKasper pic.twitter.com/PQGp8tLM9m— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) November 3, 2018
Racing to keep up: Is social media making us train harder?
